Nonsoap synthetic detergent in



pyrophosphate, borax and the like.

Patented June 23, 1 953 NON SOAP SYNTHETIC DETERGENT. IN CAKE FORM William Monroe Walters, Eleanor, W. Va.

No Drawing. Application October 6, 1950, Serial No. 188,868

This invention relates to a detergent composition in the form of a solid mass or cake. More particularly it relates to acake form detergent containing an alkylated aromatic sulfonate.

Particulate solid detergent compositions containing alkylated aromatic sulfonates are described in Samaras and Harris Patents 2,298,650

and 2,298,651 and in Harris Patent 2,298,696.

These compositions contain from 35 to 65 parts by weight of sodium sulfate and 65 to 35 parts by weight of a water soluble salt of a mono alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon sulfonic acid, the alkyl group of which contains 9-16carbon atoms, part of the sodium sulfate may be replaced by magnesium sulfate, sodium carbonate, tetra sodium They are non-caking, free-flowing particulate solids.

In accordance with the present invention it has been discovered that a solid mass or cake form may be prepared from the above identified particulate detergents by intimately blending therewith an organic aliphatic material containing a hydrophilic group, preferably a glycol or glycol ether. In this manner'there is produced a moldable detergent mass which does not soften or disperse in water. The composition can readily be compressed or molded to a cake form' which does not develop cracks and fissures and dissolves only slowly on prolonged contact with water. Thecakes foam freely in hard water and since no soap is present are especially suitable for use by those individuals whose skin is sensitive to ordinary soap. These detergent cakes are also valuable as a mechanics'soap. In contrast to fatty acid bar soaps they possess marked bacteriostatic activity.

In addition to the glycol or'glycol ether it is desirable to add water to the composition in which case smaller amounts of the organic additive sufiice'. Thus, useful cake form detergents have been obtained withas little as 0.5% glycol or glycol ether in the particulate detergent in the presence-of water in the range of 3-5%. In the absence of water more than 0.5% of the organic additive is required, usually at least..1%. Useful proportions comprise 05-10% glycol or glycol ether and 00-25% water. A ratio of 85 parts by weight of water to of the glycol or glycol ether are about optimum.

Other ingredients may be added where desired including abrasives, examples being seismotite, pumice and precipitated chalk, antiseptics, germicides, perfumes and dyes. For example, the compositions are compatible with bis (2 hy droxy-3,5,6-trichloro phenyl) methane.

.3 Claims. (Cl.'252--161) 'The'following examples illustrate the inven .tion in detail but are not to be construed as limitative thereof.

Example 1 A particulate detergent comprising approximately 40 parts by weight of dodecyl benzene sodium sulfonate and parts by weight of sodiumsulfate was intimately mixed with a solution comprising 15 partsby weight of propylene glycol and partswater. Approximately 65.9 parts'by weight of the detergent composition and 3.4 parts by weight of the glycol solution were employed. The resulting composition was a moldable solid mass which could be readily formed into a cake. The cake was submerged in water for three and one-half hours after which time it still retained, its shape. The surface was sticky but soon dried out again on standing in air. A5 gram sample was gently molded into a ball and submerged for 48 hours in tap water at room temperature. The residue weighed 1.5 grams and still retained the'surface characteristics after again exposing to the air.

The product is compatible with other wetting agents, detergents and builders. For example, 50 parts by'weight of the above described composition of particulate detergent, water and gly- 001 were intimately blended with 1 part by weight of a liquid wetting agent comprising the condensation product of a long chain mercaptan and ethylene oxide without noticeably altering the physical properties. The composition was still moldable and produceda satisfactory cake after the further addition of 11 parts by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate.

Erample 2 Substantially 53.7 parts by Weight of the particulate detergent-composition of Example 1 was intimately mixed with 4.4 parts by weight of diethylene glycol monoethyl'ether. The resulting --moldable mass was compressed into the detergent cake.

Ezzcample 3 Example 4 Substantially 112.3 parts by weight of the particulate detergent composition of Example 1 was intimately mixed with 7.7 parts by weight 3 of propylene glycol. The resulting composition was a solid mass readily moldable to cake form.

Example 5 Substantially 26.0 parts by weight of the particulate detergent composition of Example 1 was admixed with substantially 6 parts by weight of diethylene glycol ethyl ether and 47.5 parts by weight of water. The resulting moldable composition was compressed into the form of a hard cake. A still harder cake was produced by increasing the proportion of particulate detergent to 34.0 parts by weight. An admixture of 26 parts by weight of the particulate detergent and 4 parts by weight of the aforesaid glycol solution also produced a hard cake.

Example 6 Substantially 113.5 parts by weight of the particulate detergent of Example 1 was intimately mixed with 5 parts by weight of a solution consisting of 15 parts by Weight of ethylene glycol mono butyl ether and 85 parts by weight of water. The moldable mass was compressed into a cake form. Bacteriostatic properties are illustrated by tests against Micrococcus pyrogenes var. aureus. At a concentration of 100 parts per million only very weak growth was shown and higher concentrations completely inhibited growth. Fatty acid bar soaps do not control this organism at 1000 p. p. m.

An intimate mixture of the particulate detergent of Example 1 and ethylene glycol mono butyl ether was prepared in the ratio of substantially 750 parts by weight of the former and 5 of the latter. The composition gave a pliable cake.

Example 7 Substantially 110.5 parts by weight of the particulate detergent of Example 1 was intimately mixed with 6 parts by weight of a solution consisting of 15 parts by weight of propylene glycol and 85 parts by weight of Water. The moldable composition was compressed into a cake. The detergent cake possessed marked bacteriostatic properties. It completely inhibited the growth of Micrococcus pyrogenes var. aureus at a concentration of 100 p. p. m. in nutrient agar.

While any glycol or glycol ether appears to be suitable for the preparation of cake form detergent, there is noticeable difference in the properties of the resulting compositions. For example, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, monobutyl ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol proved to be definitely superior to ethylene glycol and glycerine. Other glycols which can be used are polyethylene glycols like triethylene glycol and higher polymers, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol mono methyl ether and Z-ethyl hexane-diol-l,3. Acetic acid has also been successfully employed. From an admixture of 447 parts by weight of the particulate detergent of Example 1 and 1 part by weight of 36% acetic acid a pliable cake was formed. The cake retained its shape after submerging three and onehalf hours in water and the sticky surface dried out again on standing. The further addition of sodium tri polyphosphate produced a harder cake. Still another composition which formed a hard cake consisted in 106.5 parts by weight of the particulate detergent of Example 1, 1.4 parts by weight of 36% acetic acid, 1.5 parts by weight of a commercial wetting agent comprising the condensation product of a long chain mercaptan and ethylene oxide and 8.5 parts by weight of sodium tri polyphosphate.

It will be appreciated that where desired soap may be employed in the compositions. For example, a mixture of equal parts by weight of the particulate detergent of Example 1 and Ivory soap were intimately mixed with a small amount of propylene glycol to produce a cake form detergent. Other surface active agents such as alcohol sulfates and ethylene oxide condensates of fatty acids and phenols may be contained in the cake form detergent.

What is claimed is:

1. A detergent composition in solid cake form comprising a mixture of 35-65 parts sodium sulfate and 65-35 parts of an alkali-metal salt of an alkylated benzene sulfonic acid, and at least one but not more than ten parts per parts of the aforesaid solid constituent mixture of a compound selected from the group consisting of gly- 0015 and glycol-ethers whereas said members contain at least three carbon atoms and not more than two hydroxyl groups having a molecular weight not exceeding about 150.

2. A detergent composition in solid cake form comprising a mixture of 35-65 parts sodium sulfate and 65-35 parts of an alkali-metal salt of an alkylated benzene sulfonic acid, and at least five but not more than ten parts per 100 parts of the aforesaid solid constituent mixture of a compound selected from the group consisting of glycols and glycol-ethers whereas said members contain at least three carbon atoms and not more than two hydroxyl groups having a molecular weight not exceeding about 150.

3. A detergent composition in solid cake form comprising a mixture of 40 parts sodium sulfate and 60 parts of the sodium salt of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid, and at least five but not more than ten parts per 100 parts of a compound selected from the group consisting of glycols and glycolethers whereas said members contain at least three carbon atoms and not more than two hydroxyl groups having a molecular Weight not exceeding about 150.

WILLIAM MONROE WALTERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,165,857 Jacobowitz July 11, 1939 2,374,213 Katzman Apr. 24, 1945 2,385,614 Dreger Sept. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 488,196 Great Britain June 30, 1938 

1. A DETERGENT COMPOSITION IN SOLID CAKE FORM COMPRISING A MIXTURE OF 35-65 PARTS SODIUM SULFATE AND 65-35 PARTS OF AN ALKALI-METAL SALT OF AN ALKYLATED BENZENE SULFONIC ACID, AND AT LEAST ONE BUT NOT MORE THAN TEN PARTS PER 100 PARTS OF THE AFORESAID SOLID CONSTITUENT MIXTURE OF A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF GLYCOLS AND GLYCOL-ETHERS WHEREAS SAID MEMBERS CONTAIN AT LEAST THREE CARBON ATOMS AND NOT MORE THAN TWO HYDROXYL GROUPS HAVING A MOLECULAR WEIGHT NOT EXCEEDING ABOUT
 150. 